Wire-splicer



I L. M. HELLYER.

. WIRE SPLICER. APPLICATION FILED APR-30. 1920.

1 57,454, 7 Patented Nov. 2, 1920,

tJNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WIRE-SPLIGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application filed. April 30, 1920. Serial No. 377,892.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLorn M. Hnmirnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holden, in the county of Logan and State of lVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Splicers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an apparatus for coupling the ends of wires and it is more particularly adapted in its applicatlon to that specific class of devices known as splicers which are used between the ends of overhead trolley wires of electric railways, so that the slack of the wires may be taken up or their broken ends may be brought together.

In the splicing of overhead trolley wires upon surface lines generally speaking, there is plenty of room in which to operate to make the necessary repairs, but such 1s not the case in trolley wires which are attached to the overhead surface of galleries in mines. In these galleries, as a rule, there is barely head room and in repairing broken wires, it is necessary in using such devicesas are ordinarily employed upon'surface lines to take down quite a stretch of wire to make repairs and that being done then to replace the wires in their former position.

Qne of the objects I have in view is to overcome this difficulty and to provide such a coupling or splicer that the slack can be readily taken up and the wires 1f broken can be spliced and quickly restored notwithstanding the lack of space in which to operate.

Another object of my invention is to construct a device of the nature indicated, the manufacture of which will be inexpensive; the construction of which will prove durable and the handling of which in actual use will accomplish the objects sought to be attained as set forth in the paragraph next precedm l3y constructing the coupling in three parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth, I

have been able to overcome the disadvantages enumerated and to provide a device which in actual practice has proven very satisfactory.

With these and other objects in view which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to'the particular constructions which for the purpose of explanation have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved coupling or splicer.

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof, most of the parts, however, being broken away and shown 1n cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical view of one of the end sections as it appears when looking toward the bridging surface, or member.

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical View of one of the end sections as it appears along the line 4.4c of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical end view of the bridg ingFsurface or member along the line 5-5 of *ig. 2 showing in cross section the tie rod which passes through it.

Similar reference characters designate like parts or features in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral. 1 designates an end section of the coupling or splicer, the same being constructed of any suitable conductive material and in all respects similar to the other end section designated by the numeral 2 on the other side of the middle or bridging surface 3, which is constructed of the same or similar material. The bridging surface consists of a member having a connecting or tie rod 4 made integral therewith and-extending through its central portion as shown'in Fig. 2. One end 5 of this rod is provided with a right hand screw and the other end 6 is provided with a left hand screw. The lower edge of said surface is longitudinally straight and in section is rounded off to make a smooth surface for the trolley wheel to run upon.

The end sections consist each of a member 8 preferably of or about the same thickness as the bridging surface and of like material, and provided near its upper edge with a screw threaded opening 9 for the screw threaded bolt 9 longitudinally eX- tending therethrough. At the center of said inember'is a bore for the entrance of the tie rod 4, and near itsbottom there is a still larger bore for the reception of the trolley wire 10. The extreme outer and lower edge of this end section is slightly curved or rounded off as seen at 13 (see'Figs. 1 and 2) so that the trolley wheel in leaving the wire, will pass smoothly on to said end section. The trolley wire as clearly shown in Fig. 2 is held in place by set screws ll and 12.

The construction of the other end being exactly the same as the one just referred to, no description thereof will be necessary. The operation of my device is asfollows: One end of one of the trolley wires having been secured by set screws 11 and 12 to one of the end sections and one end of the other trolley wire having been secured to the other end section in like manner, the bridging surface is revolved by hand until the end sections with their attached trolley wires have been drawn closely to the bridg-. ing member or surface, and the slack in the wire taken up. The bolts 9 on each of the end sections are then screwed into position against each end of the bridging member or' surface and the operation is complete.

It is to be observed that the space necessary for turning the bridging member is quite small being only one half the diameter of said member plus space for the fingers of the hand to pass over and clasp it.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I Wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forthby way of illustration, as it is apparent that modifications and variations may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceed ing the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. wire coupling comprising two disunited sections adapted to grip the wires and separate means forming a bridging surface for holding the sections in operative relationto each'other;

2. A wire coupling comprising two disunlted sections adapted to grip the wires and a separate connecting link forming a bridging surface and holding the sections in operative relation to each other.

3. A wire coupling comprising two disunited sections adapted to grip the wires and separate means for adjusting the distance apart of the two sections itself forming a bridging surface.

4. A wire coupling comprising two disunited sections adapted to grip the wires and a separate. connecting link forming a bridging surface and adjustably holding the two sections in operative relation to each other.

5. A wire coupling comprising two dis united sections wire gripping means on each section and a separate connecting link forming a bridging surface.

6. A wire coupling comprising two sections, wire gripping means on each section and a separate connecting link forming a bridging surface, a tie rod integral with the connecting link and operating to regulate the distance between the sections and means to fix the position of the connecting link at any desired place.

7. A wire coupling comprising two sections, wire gripping set screws on each section and separate connecting link forming a bridging surface, a tie rod integral with the connecting link and operating to regulate the distance between the sections, and means to fix the position of the connecting link at any desired place.

8. A wire coupling comprising two sections, wire gripping means on each section,. a separate link forming a bridging surface, a tie rod integral with the connecting rod and operating to simultaneously move the two sections toward or from each other and means to fix the position of the connecting link at any desired place.

9. A wire coupling comprising two sections, wire gripping set screws on each section, a separate connecting link forming a bridging surface, a tie rod integral with the connecting link and operating to simul-' taneously move the two sections toward or from each other and means to fix the position of the connecting link at any desired place. i

10. A wire coupling comprising two sections, wire gripping set screws on each section, a separate connecting link forming a bridging surface, a tie rod integral with the connecting link and having right and left handed screw threads thereon cooperating with screw threads upon each-of the two sections to simultaneously move them toward or from'each other and set screwsto fix the position of the connecting links at any de sired place. j

11. A wire coupling comprising twosections, adapted to grip the wires, a separate means forming a bridging surface and separate means of substantially the same crosssection as the two sections forming a bridging surface for holding the sections in operative relation to each other.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LLOYD M. HELLYER. 

